Troffer with removable closure and adjusting means



May 26, 1964 P. s. SERIO ETAL TROFFER WITH REMOVABLE CLOSURE ANDADJUSTING MEANS Filed June 18, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l H jnzlenforskZwZeSSET' Pasg Bickafli 6 [65572677 William/6? Qgrel m WW May 26, 1964P. s. SERIO ETAL 3,134,498

TROFFER WITH REMOVABLE CLOSURE AND ADJUSTING mus Filed June 18, 1962 3Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTORS; Pas uale Senna, rd (lLessner;

May 26, 19 4 P. s. SERIO ETAL TROFFER WITH REMOVABLE CLOSURE ANDADJUSTING MEANS Filed June 18, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS.Pczsguale 51 56rd), fizJc/zard Glessner ll/L'llljam/ C 62 relb,

United States Patent 3,134,498 TROFFER WITH REMOVABLE QLQSURE ANDADIUSTING MEANS Pasquale 5. Sonic, Prospect Heights, William C. Agrell,Forest Earls, and Richard C. Lessner, Des Plaines, 111., assignors toThomas Industries Inc., Louisville, Ky, a corporation of Delaware FiledJune 18, 1962, Ser. No. 2%,231 Claims. (Cl. 22%3.8)

This invention relates to lighting fixtures suitable for use in false ordrop ceilings as Well as for mounting at the underface of ceilings ofconventional type.

Fixtures of the character referred to are extensively used and arefrequently referred to as trofiers. When used with false or dropceilings, the fixture may be inserted into a suitable opening in theceiling. In one type of drop ceiling the fixtures are supported byhangers from members of a grid structure or" known type, the ceilingproper being formed of suitable panels or tiles, frequently acousticpanels, supported in part, or entirely, by appropriately disposedflanges or analogous elements cmried by the proper housing. In anothertype of drop ceiling the underface thereof is finished with a plastercoating and the troffer is supported by means of shoulders or analogouselements on the trofier housing seating on an enclosing framework,commonly formed of lengths of 2" by 4" lumber, the lower edge of thetroffer housing being flush with the plaster coating of the ceiling. Asabove indicated, the trofier may be used in a third manner, by beingmounted on or suspended from the ceiling of conventional type.

Our invention is directed to a lighting fixture or troffer readilyadaptable to use in any one of the three manners above indicated. Tothat end we provide hanger units removably mounted in the trotierhousing for suspending the troifer from members of a grill work and foradjusting and leveling the trotfer when so suspended, such hanger unitsbeing readily removable and replaceable for adapting the troffer to itsintended use. The troffer housing is provided with lower inwardly offsetportions providing shoulders for supporting the troifer in a frameworkof a ceiling of the second type above mentioned. A further and importantobject of our invention is to provide means whereby a suitable closuremember or panel may readily be mounted in the lower or bottom portion ofthe trotfer and may as readily be removed therefrom. The closure panelmounting means comprises suitable seats for the panel, with the hangerunits disposed above such seats so as not to interfere with insertion orremoval of the closure panel. It is also an object of our invention toprovide mounting and retaining means for the closure panel which, inaddition to facilitating insertion and removal thereof, imparts afinished and attractive appearance to the underface of the troifer.Furtherobjects and advantages of our invention will appear from thedetail description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a troiler embodyingour invention;

FIGURE 2 is an underneath view of the troffer of FIGURE 1, with certainparts broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a .side view of one end portion of the trotfer of FIGURE .1;

FIGURE 4 is a side View, on an enlarged scale and partly broken away,.of one of the end closure caps of the housing, thelatter being shown insection;

FIGURE 5 is asectional .view taken substantially on line 55 .015 FIGURE3, .on an enlarged scale, certain parts'being shownin elevation;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line -66 of FIGURE 5but with the hangerretracted;

3,134,498 Patented May 26, 19.64

FIGURE 7 is an underneath view of a modified form of troifer embodyingour invention, one of the lamp chambers being broken away for the majorportion of its length;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantiallyon line 88 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of FIGURE8, on an enlarged scale, certain parts being shown in elevation. Thetroffer of our invention comprises a downwardly opening box-like housinghaving a top wa l 10, side walls 11 and end walls 12, the latter beingprovided by end caps 13 having top flanges 14, upper and lower sideflanges 15 and 16' and a bottom flange 17. The top wall 19 is providedwith two lengthwise ribs 18 of generally V-shape in cross sectionpressed downwardly therefrom and defining between them a shallow channel19 extending the full length of wall 10. The top flange 14 of each endcap 13 is slotted to accommodate the ribs 18 and has suitably disposedtabs 20 pressed therefrom for securing the wiring of the fixture ortroffer; as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. The lower portions of the sidewalls 11 are inwardly oifset, as are the lower portions of the end caps13, providing side and end shoulders 21 and 22, respectively, spaced anappreciable distance above the bottom or lower edge of the troffer, forsupporting the latter in a suitable frame of a false or drop ceiling ofthe type above mentioned. The flanges of the end caps 13 fit snugly inthe ends of the main or body portion of the housing and are suitablysecured thereto in any suitable manner, conveniently by spot welding.

The housing, constructed as above, is of generally rectangular shape inplan, straight sided and defines a lamp compartment. Lamp holders 25, ofsuitable known type, are 'secured to the top wall 10 of the housing atopposite sides of channel 19 and adjacent the end walls 12, convenientlyby screws 26. The holders 25 receive the ends of fluorescent lamp tubes27, providing electrical connections therefor, as is known. A lampballast 28 is mounted in channel 19 and is secured to top wall 1% by nutand bolt means 29. The ballast 28 is enclosed by an upwardly openingcover 36 of channel cross section, the lower wall of which divergesdownwardly providing a Wire way 31 extending beneath the ballast 23.Cover 36 fits in channel 19 and is releasably attached thereto in asuitable known manner.

Each of the side walls 11 is provided, at the lower edge thereof, withan upwardly and inwardly inclined flange 34 attached by a relativelynarrow horizontal flange 35 to the lower edge of side wall 11. The upperportion of flange 34 is bent outwardly and then upwardly to provide aseat 36 having at its outer edge a retaining shoulder 37; as shown moreclearly in FIGURE '8. The flanges 34 extend substantially the fulllength of the housing, to the bottom flanges 17 of the end caps 13 andhave their ends beveled or inclined upwardly and inwardly as shown moreclearly in FIGURE 2. The bottom flange 17 of each end cap 13 is providedwith an upward and inward extension inclined similarly to the flanges 34.of the side walls 11, such extension 17a having inclined ends andfitting between the inclined ends of the flanges 34. A retaining strip38 is hingedly mounted by a piano hinge 39 the outer leaf of which issuitably secured, conveniently by spot Welding to the upper face offlange 17, strip 33 constituting the other leaf of the hinge. The lowerportion of strip 33 is slightly offset outwardly to receive theextension 17a of flange 17, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. Retainingstrip 38 is thus mounted for movement outwardly and inwardly of the lampcompartment toward and away from end wall 12, its outward movement beinglimited to substantially vertical position by a suitable stop bracket 40spot welded to end wall 12. The retaining strip 38 is of approximatelythe same width as the side flanges 34 and is of a length to fittherebetween, the ends of the respective strips 38 being beveled orinclined similarly to the ends of the flanges 34. When the strips 38 arein their normal inner positions the beveled ends thereof match thebeveled ends of the flanges 34 and the upper edges of strips 38 aredisposed approximately in the common plane of the seats 36, the latterbeing disposed in a common plane transversely of the housing.

The seats 36 receive a panel closure member, which may be an imperforatelight diffusing panel formed of plastic, glass or any suitable material.The panel 43 is of a width to fit snugly between the retaining shoulders37 at the outer edges of the seats 36 and of a length to extendapproximately to the inner edges of the lower side flanges 16 of the endcaps 13, as shown. When the retaining strips 38 are in their normalinner position they eflectively preclude displacement of the panel 43and, in conjunction with the side flanges 34 provide a frame withmitered corners underlying the panel 43 and imparting a neat andattractive appearance to the trofler, when viewed from beneath. When itis desired to remove the panel 43, the end retaining strips 38 areturned upwardly and outwardly to substantially vertical position, theends of the panel 43 being raised slightly for that purpose, after whichthe panel 43 may be tilted slightly transversely and then withdrawn fromthe housing. In like manner the panel 43 may be replaced in the housing,resting upon the seats 36, after which the ends of the panel may beraised slightly and the retaining strips 38 returned to their normalposition. It will be understood that the panel 43 may be replaced by anyother suitable type of panel or closure member, such as a louver orlattice type of panel. Accordingly, the term panel as used herein is tobe construed as meaning any suitable type of closure means.

The troffer so far described is suitable for mounting at the underfaceof a ceiling or for mounting in a framework above the underface of aplaster coated or finished ceiling of the character above mentioned. Inorder that the trotfer may be used by inserting it into a false or dropceiling including grill work of known type, we provide means wherebysuitable hangers may be applied to the side walls of the housing.Referring to FIGURES 3, and 6, each side wall 11 is provided, a shortdistance from each end thereof, with an L-shaped opening or slot 45having an upper horizontal arm opening at one end into a vertical arm. Ahinger boxing 46 is mounted on the inner face of side wall 11 overlyingthe respective slots 45. The boxing 46 comprises an inner wall 47, topand bottom walls 48 and 49, respectively, and side walls 50. The topwall 48 is provided at its outer edge with an upwardly extending flange51 from the upper edge of which extends a tab 52 of reduced width, thebottom wall 49 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 53, at itsouter edge offset a short distance inwardly of boxing 46, and each ofthe side walls 50 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 54. Theouter face of the boxing 46 is open and the flanges seat on the innerface of side Wall 11 with tab 52 extending through a corresponding slot55 in the edge of the top wall 10. The bottom tab 53 seats on the upperportion of the lower inwardly offset portion of the side wall 11, beingoitset a slight distance inwardly of boxing 46 for that purpose, asabove noted, and is secured to side wall 11 by a screw 56 passingthrough side wall 11 and threading through the flange 53. A verticallydisposed adjusting screw is rotatably mounted through the bottom and topwalls 49 and 48, respectively, of boxing 46 and extends a short distanceabove the top wall 48. The upper end of screw 57 is staked or expandedto provide projections or abutments 58 efiective for restraining screw57 against 7 downward movement relative to boxing 46. At its lower endthe screw is prow'ded with a slotted head 59 between which and thebottom wall 49 of the boxing a spring washer 69 of known type isdisposed about the screw eifective, in conjunction with wall and head59, for restraining screw 57 against upward movement while also holdingit against objectionable looseness and undesired turning movement. Thescrew 57 is disposed in approximate alignment with the vertical arm ofthe corresponding slot 45 and has threaded thereon one end of a hangerarm 63. of generally channel cross section. The arm 61 has a binding fiton screw 57 so as to turn therewith when released from the boxing 46,while permitting rotation of the screw 57 in either direction when thehanger arm 61 is restrained against turning movement. When the hangersare not in use the hanger arms 61 are disposed within the boxings 46below the horizontal arms of the slots 45. The respective boxings 46 areof a length slightly greater than that of the hanger arm 61 and thedistance between the inner wall 47 of the boxing 46 and the opposed areaof the side wall 11 of the housing is substantially less than the lengthof the hanger arm 61. Accordingly, when the arm 61 is disposed withinthe boxing out of the plane of the horizontal arm of slot 45 it isrestrained against turning movement with the screw 57. Assuming arm 61to be within the boxing 46 and below the horizontal arm of slot 45, byturning the adjusting screw 57 in proper direction the hanger arm may bemoved upwardly to a position in the plane of the horizontal arm of slot45. When hanger arm 61 reaches that position, it is moved outwardlythrough the horizontal arm of slot 45 in the continued turning of screw57, such outward movement of hanger arm 61 being limited by the edges ofthe vertical arm of slot 45. The hanger arms 61 are then projected andextend outwardly from the side walls 11 at approximately right anglesthereto, as shown in FIGURE 5. As will be understood, the hanger armsare not projected until the trofier has been appropriately positioned inthe drop ceiling so that the hanger arm 61, when projected, will overliesupporting members of the grill structure. With the hanger arms 61seating upon the supporting members, the adjusting screws may berotated, without turning of the hanger arms 61, for adjusting andleveling the troifer. In cases where the hangers are not required, theboxings 46 and the adjusting screw and hanger arm carried thereby mayreadily be removed as a unit and, when required, may as readily bereplaced. When the trolfer is to be used in a drop ceiling comprisingtiles or panels, angle strips 62 may be secured in any suitable mannerto the lower edge portions of the side walls 11 of the housing, toprovide flanges for supporting tiles or panels of the ceiling extendingabout the trotfer housing. Ordinarily the angle strips 62 may be omittedand provided only as needed.

The modified form of trofier shown in FIGURES 7, 8, and 9, is similar tothat of FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, but is of greater length to providetwo lamp chambers. Lamp holders 25 are secured to the top wall 10 of thehousing and receive the inner ends of the lamp tubes, there being fourof such tubes disposed in pairs lengthwise of the housing. The centrallamp holders 25 overlie a cross bar 65 of inverted channel cross sectionhaving end flanges 66 seating on and suitably secured to, convenientlyby spot welding, the side walls 11 of the housing. The lower edges ofthe arms of cross bar 65 preferably are disposed approximately in theplane of the panel seats 36 providing abutments disposed to restrainendwise movement of panels 43 toward each other, it being understoodthat in the longer modified form of trotfer the cross bar 65 separatesthe compartment thereof into two lamp chambers each having a closurepanel 43. The cross bar 65 overlies a retaining strip member 67 ofapproximately flattened V-shape in cross section. Two mounting rods 68are provided at their lower ends with radial extensions or heads 69seating on the upper face of the substantially horizontal centralportion 70 of member 67. The rods 68 are disposed adjacent the ends ofmember 67 and are slidable through a relatively short sleeve or thimble71 secured in the bight or web portion of the cross bar 65. Each of thethimbles is provided, adjacent its lower end, with a circumferentialgroove 72 which snugly receives the bight portion of cross bar 25. Inthat connection it will be noted that the body portion of thimble 71,above groove 72, is of frusto-conical shape, tapering upwardly, and thethimble preferably is formed of a plastic, such as polyethylene, whichis compressible to a certain extent. The thimbles are inserted into theopenings in the bight portion of cross bar 25 and are forced throughsuch openings, being radially compressed, until the base of the bodyportion of the thimble passes through the opening, at which time thebody portion expands radially so as to overlie the bight portion ofcross bar 65, thus anchoring the thimbles in the cross bar. The thimbles71 are of tubular form, as shown, the interior diameter being such as tofit tightly about the supporting rods 68 in pressure frictional con-tacttherewith. The retaining strip member 67 is thus mounted for verticalmovement toward and away from the side flanges 34 and normally is heldin its raised position by the rods 68 and thimbles 71 in cooperationwith the cross bar 65. The width of the horizontal central portion 70 ofmember 67 preferably is the same, transversely of the housing, as thewidth of flange 35 plus flange 34, the width of the respective arms 73of member 7% preferably is approximately the same as the width of therespective flanges 34, the length of member 70 corresponds to thedistance between the flanges 34 and the ends of the arms 73 of member 67are beveled or inclined upwardly and inwardly similarly to the flanges"34. When the member 67 is in its normal raised position the endsthereof seat on the flanges 34 so that the trotfer presents a neat andattractive appearance when viewed from beneath. A retaining strip 38 ishingedly mounted on each of the end walls, as before, and the width ofthe respective arms 73 of member 67 is such that the upper edges of sucharms are disposed approximately in the plane of the seats 36 when member67 is in its normal raised position. The panels 43 are supported uponthe seats 36 with their ends in proximity to the cross bar 65 and theend walls 12, as will be understood. When it is desired to remove thepanel 43 the retaining member 67 is moved downward so as to be spaced anappreciable distance below the flanges 34 and the retaining strip 38 ofthe lamp chamber from which the panel is to be removed is turnedupwardly and outwardly to its outer position. The panel may then beremoved in the manner previously described, and may as readily bereplaced. In that connection it will be noted that the boxings 46 forthe hangers are spaced well above the seats 36 so as to accommodatetransverse tilting of the panels 43 for insertion or removal thereof.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the field and scope of our invention, and we intend toinclude all such variations, as fall within the appended claims, in thisapplication in which the preferred forms only of our invention have beendisclosed.

We claim:

1. In a lighting fixture, a downwardly opening housing substantiallyrectangular in plan comprising a top and two side and two end wallssecured together and defining a lamp compartment, said side walls havingat the lower edges thereof upwardly directed inner flanges providingseats for a closure panel, said seats being disposed in a common planetransversely of said housing, retaining strips hingedly mounted on saidend walls below said seats and movable independently of said side andend walls outwardly and inwardly of said compartment toward and awayfrom said end walls, and means normally holding said strips in an innerposition with their upper edges approximately in said plane.

2. In a lighting fixture, a downwardly opening housing substantiallyrectangular in plan comprising a top and two side and two end wallssecured together and de fining a lamp compartment, said side wallshaving at the lower edges thereof continuous upwardly and inwardlyinclined flanges, the upper portions of said flanges being formed toprovide closure panel seats disposed substantially in a common planetransversely of said housing, said end walls having flanges at theirlower edges extending inwardly 'of said housing, continuous retainingstrips hinged to said end wall flanges and movable independently of saidside and end walls toward and away from said end walls outwardly andinwardly of said housing, and means limiting inward movement of saidstrips effective for holding them inclined upwardly and inwardly of saidhousing at approximately the same inclination as said side wall flangesand with their upper edges approximately in said plane.

3. In a lighting fixture, a downwardly opening housing substantiallyrectangular in plan comprising a top and two side and two end wallsfixedly secured together and defining a lamp compartment, said sidewalls having at the lower edges thereof continuous upwardly and inwardlyinclined flanges having ends beveled upwardly and inwardly of saidhousing, the upper portions of said flanges being formed to provideclosure panel seats disposed substantially in a common planetransversely of said housing and upwardly extending panel retainingshoulders at the outer edges of said seats, said end walls havingflanges at their lower edges extending inwardly of said housing,continuous retaining strips hinged to said end wall flanges and movableindependently of said side and end walls toward and away from said endwalls outwardly and inwardly of said housing, said strips being of alength corresponding to the distance between the ends of said side wallflanges and having beveled ends adapted to register with the beveledends of said side wall flanges in the inner position of said strips, andmeans limiting inward movement of said strips eflcctive for holding theminclined upwardly and inwardly of said housing at approximately the sameinclination as said side wall flanges and with their upper edgesapproximately in said plane.

4. In a lighting fixture, a downwardly opening housing substantiallyrectangular in plan comprising a top and two side and two end wallssecured together and defining a lamp compartment, said side walls havingat the lower edges thereof upwardly and inwardly extending flangesproviding seats for a closure panel, said seats being disposed in acommon plane transversely of said compartment, a cross bar mounted insaid compartment and separating the latter lengthwise into two lampchambers, retaining strips hingedly mounted on said end walls below saidseats and movable independently of said side and end walls outwardly andinwardly of said lamp chambers toward and away from said end walls,means normally holding said strips in an inner position with their upperedges approximately in said plane, a retaining strip member mounted onsaid cross bar, and means mounting said member on said cross bar formovement upward into proximity to said flanges and downward to aposition spaced from said flanges, said mounting means including meansnormally holding said retaining strip member in its upper position.

5. In a lighting fixture, a downwardly opening housing substantiallyrectangular in plan comprising a top and two side and two end wallssecured together and defining a lamp compartment, said side walls havingat the lower edges thereof upwardly and inwardly extending flangesextending substantially the full length of said compartment andproviding seats for a closure panel, said seats being disposed in acommon plane transversely of said compartment and said flanges havingbeveled ends, a cross bar mounted on said side walls above said seatsand separating said compartment lengthwise into two lamp chambers, saidend walls having at their lower edges flanges extending inward of saidlamp chambers, retaining strips hingedly mounted on said end wallflanges and movable independently of said side and end walls outwardlyand inwardly toward and away from said end walls, said retaining stripsbeing approximately the same length as the distance between the ends ofsaid side wall flanges and having beveled ends complementary to thebeveled ends of said side wall flanges, means normally holding saidretaining strips in an inner position with their upper edgesapproximately in said plane and their ends in approximate register withthe ends of said side wall flanges, a 10 retaining strip member ofapproximately V-shape in cross section approximately corresponding inlength to the distance between said side wall flanges and having endsbeveled correspondingly to the upward and inward inclination of saidsidewall flanges, and means mounting said member on said cross bar forupward and downward movement toward and away from said side wallflanges, said mounting means including means normally holding saidretaining strip member in an upper position with the upper edges thereofapproximately in the plane of said seats and its ends seating on saidside wall flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,518,724 Runge Aug. 15, 1950 3,018,082 Berger Jan. 23, 1962 3,019,333Pascucci Jan. 30, 1962

1. IN A LIGHTING FIXTURE, A DOWNWARDLY OPENING HOUSING SUBSTANTIALLYRECTANGULAR IN PLAN COMPRISING A TOP AND TWO SIDE AND TWO END WALLSSECURED TOGETHER AND DEFINING A LAMP COMPARTMENT, SAID SIDE WALLS HAVINGAT THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF UPWARDLY DIRECTED INNER FLANGES PROVIDINGSEATS FOR A CLOSURE PANEL, SAID SEATS BEING DISPOSED IN A COMMON PLANETRANSVERSELY OF SAID HOUSING, RETAINING STRIPS HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON SAIDEND WALLS BELOW SAID SEATS AND MOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SIDE ANDEND WALLS OUTWARDLY AND INWARDLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT TOWARD AND AWAYFROM SAID END WALLS, AND MEANS NORMALLY HOLDING SAID STRIPS IN AN INNERPOSITION WITH THEIR UPPER EDGES APPROXIMATELY IN SAID PLANE.